Well, here we are again. It is Friday, September 25, 2026, and the NHL is dipping its toes into the preseason waters. We have four exhibitions on tap today—BOS @ WSH, NYR @ NYI, DAL @ MIN, and WPG @ COL—but let’s be honest: these don't count for a lick in the standings. Yesterday, September 24, saw plenty of action, including Philadelphia taking down Boston 2-0 and San Jose hanging a ridiculous 10-0 score on Anaheim, but that is all just noise to fill the void.
As a long-suffering Leafs fan, I have become an expert in the art of the off-season. We spend our summers dissecting roster moves and salary cap gymnastics, praying that this is finally the year the curse of 1967 is lifted. It never is, of course. Watching other teams parade the Stanley Cup around is a seasonal tradition for us, like changing the leaves. While the rest of the hockey world looks forward to training camp battles and roster cuts, I am here nursing my coffee, wondering if our latest defensive acquisitions will actually stop a puck or just provide more material for my therapy sessions. Cautious hope—the hallmark of a true Toronto fan.